If you've never had a family photography session before, you might be wondering what actually happens when you book one.
Do the children need to behave perfectly?
Do you have to stand and smile at the camera for an hour?
What should you wear?
What happens if your toddler decides they absolutely do not want their photograph taken?
And what if you feel a little awkward in front of the camera?
The good news is that family photography doesn't have to feel like that at all.
My family photography sessions in Dorset are relaxed, natural and centred around the connection between you and your family. I'm not looking for perfect poses or perfectly behaved children. I'm looking for the little moments that make your family your family.
What happens when you book a family photography session?
Before your session, we'll have a chat about what you're looking for, who will be coming along and what you want your photographs to feel like. I'll help you choose a location if you'd like an outdoor session, or we can talk about an at-home session if you'd prefer something more relaxed and personal. You don't need to know exactly what you want before you get in touch. That's what I'm here for!
Do we have to pose?
Nope. Not in the traditional sense anyway!
I might give you some gentle direction when it's helpful, but I don't want you standing in a line looking at the camera for your entire session.
Instead, I'll encourage you to interact with each other.
Walk together.
Play.
Have cuddles.
Tickle the children.
Hold hands.
Explore.
Tell terrible jokes.
Dance if the mood takes you!
Some of my favourite photographs happen when nobody is actually looking at the camera.
Those little in-between moments are often the photographs you'll treasure most, I even wrote a blog post about this very thing!
What if my children don't behave?
Honestly? That's completely fine.
Children are children.
They might run off. They might get distracted. They might refuse to stand where I've asked them to. They might want to explore everything around them. They might spend half the session hiding behind your legs.
I've got five children myself, so I know that children don't always follow the plan! I don't expect them to sit perfectly and smile on command. Instead, I work with them rather than against them. We'll take our time, let them explore and make the session fun.
Sometimes the photograph you end up loving most is the one where your child wasn't doing what we expected them to do at all.
What should we wear for a family photoshoot?
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable. You don't need everyone to wear matching outfits, and you certainly don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe for your session.
I generally recommend choosing colours and textures that work well together rather than dressing everyone identically. Soft, natural colours tend to photograph beautifully, but the most important thing is that the clothes feel like you.
If you're unsure, I'm always happy to help with outfit ideas before your session, or have a look at my guide on how to co-ordinate your family without matching.
Where can we have our family photography session?
I'm based in Dorset, so there are lots of beautiful places we can use for an outdoor family photography session, and I've put together a guide to some of my favourite family photoshoot locations in Dorset if you need some inspiration. We can choose somewhere that suits your family, whether that's a beach, woodland, countryside, park or another location that has meaning to you. You don't need to find the "perfect" location either. Sometimes a place that seems completely ordinary to you can provide the perfect backdrop for photographs.
I also offer at-home family photography sessions, which can be particularly lovely for families with younger children or anyone who feels more comfortable in their own space.
What happens if it rains?
This is Dorset, so unfortunately I can't promise sunshine! If the weather isn't suitable for your session, we'll look at the options together and rearrange if necessary. And sometimes a little bit of unpredictable British weather can actually make for some beautiful, atmospheric photographs.
The important thing is that you're comfortable and that we have a session that works for your family.
How long does a family photography session take?
I don't want you to feel rushed. Your session will have plenty of time for everyone to settle in, especially if your children are a little unsure at first. A full family photoshoot generally lasts around an hour, but I don't run to a stopwatch so I'll make sure we get everything we need to.
There's no expectation that we need to get every photograph within the first ten minutes.
We'll take our time, let things happen naturally and capture a mixture of photographs, from the bigger family moments to all those tiny details and interactions that you might otherwise forget.
What kind of photographs will we get?
This is where my documentary-inspired approach comes in.
I'll photograph the obvious moments - everyone together, individual portraits and photographs of the children, but I'll also look for everything happening around you.
The little hands.
The cuddles.
The laughter.
The way your child looks at you.
The moments between siblings.
The tiny details you'll probably forget as the years go by.
I want you to look back at your photographs and remember what it felt like to be together, not just what you looked like.
You don't have to be good in front of the camera
I hear this one a lot.
"We're really awkward in photographs."
"My husband hates having his photograph taken."
"The children never cooperate."
That's okay.
You don't need to know how to pose, and you don't need to feel comfortable in front of a camera before your session. I'll guide you when you need it, but most of the time I'll encourage you to simply interact with the people you love.
Eventually, you might even forget I'm there.
And that's often when the magic happens.
Family photography that feels like you
For me, family photography isn't about creating a collection of perfect, posed photographs. It's about preserving this particular stage of your family life.
The children as they are now.
The way they fit into your arms.
The silly games they play.
The way siblings interact.
The cuddles, chaos, laughter and love.
Because they won't always be this little.
And one day, you'll be incredibly grateful that you captured these ordinary moments that didn't feel ordinary at all.
If you're looking for a natural, relaxed family photographer in Dorset, I'd love to hear from you.
You can find out more about my family photography sessions, have a look at my photography experience, or get in touch and tell me a little about your family.
Let's create photographs that feel like you.
